The Lagos State chapter of the Medical Guild, a body of doctors employed by the state government, has made a passionate appeal to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently implement the long-overdue upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
This salary framework, which applies to medical and dental officers in the federal public service, has already been implemented for their federal counterparts, with arrears paid from July 2023.
The guild’s Chairman, Dr. Moruf Abdulsalam, issued a stern warning on Wednesday, stating that failure to honor this agreement would have severe consequences for the state’s healthcare sector.
This call to action is particularly poignant, given President Bola Tinubu’s recent approval of a 25% increase in CONMESS, effective June 1, 2023, aimed at stemming the tide of brain drain and ensuring industrial harmony.
Nigeria is grappling with a crippling exodus of healthcare professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, and nurses, who are seeking better opportunities in developed countries.
“The globally recognized japa syndrome remains an inadequately recognised crisis, and the apparent lukewarm approach of the state government towards the above-highlighted issues only serves to tilt the Lagos doctors’ endurance to the breakpoint.
“An average of two to three doctors resign from our primary and secondary facilities every month without commensurate replacement. This has led to overwork, chronic fatigue, burnout, and strained family relationships for the remaining doctors with many grappling with chronic medical conditions from the stress and overwork.
“Moreover, the current economic starvation and stagflation in the country are biting harder on doctors too!
“This has been further worsened by the nonpayment of the reviewed CONMESS allowance and other issues of poor conditions of service,” he stated.
The Chairman of the Medical Guild emphasized the dire situation faced by doctors in Lagos State, citing a recent survey that revealed alarming statistics: nearly all doctors (91.1%) reported inadequate staffing in their departments, while a significant majority (85.9%) felt overwhelmed and burnt out due to excessive workload, and over half (54.4%) reported low morale.
Furthermore, he expressed astonishment that an overwhelming 98.7% of his members had never received benefits from the Lagos State Government’s mortgage or car loan schemes, highlighting a significant gap in support for healthcare professionals.
Continuing, he said, “Despite this shortage of medical personnel and the consequent reduction in the wage bill of government for personnel cost, the state government has continued to open up more facilities such as the recently commissioned Gbajabiamila Hospital, Surulere, Maternal and Child Centre, Imota to mention a few.
“Recall also that the medical Guild has warned about the human resources crisis being experienced in our facilities via a September 2023 position paper titled ‘’Human Resource crisis in the Lagos State Health Sector; A Medical Guild cry on scope of the problem and Panacea- A position paper to the Lagos State government’’, where we have proferred our own solutions to mitigate this ongoing haemorrhage of doctors out of the state.”
Dr. Abdulsalam stated that despite the association’s persistent efforts through advocacy and constructive dialogue to prevent the impending crisis, the government remains unyielding.
He revealed that the association’s congress will convene shortly to decide on the next course of action, implying that stronger measures may be considered if the government continues to neglect their concerns.
Listing the demands, Abdulsalam highlighted “Payment of the reviewed CONMESS allowance (living wage of Doctors) as implemented for our federal counterparts with its accrued arrears from July 2023. Employment of Medical Officers on grade level 12/2 and consultants at grade level 15/4 in line with national best practices.
“Immediate restoration and payment of contributory pension/NHF deductions for our resident doctors as enshrined in the Pension Reform Act of 2014. Full implementation of the September ‘23 Medical Guild position paper, as discussed and assented to by the government of Lagos state.”
The chairman of the Medical Guild made a heartfelt appeal to the governor to swiftly put into effect the proposed incentives, warning that failure to do so would lead to a catastrophic and preventable collapse of the healthcare system, with far-reaching consequences for the state.
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